‘Third Generation Buchenwald’ is an international group committed to preserving the memory of the Buchenwald concentration camp. We strive to ensure that a memory of the inmates’ resistance is kept alive internationally. The atrocities committed in Buchenwald by the German national socialists and elsewhere shall not be forgotten and the horrors of the past shall never be repeated.
The idea to create the group ‘Third Generation Buchenwald’ emerged in the context of the 60th anniversary of the liberation and self-liberation of Buchenwald in 2005, when five grandchildren of survivors renewed the ‘Oath of Buchenwald’, a pledge originally taken in 1945 by Buchenwald survivors to continue fighting fascism and build a new world of peace and freedom. The group subsequently grew into a wider collective of people connected to Buchenwald in many different ways, including family history, friendship, and research or personal and political interest. At present, anyone who is a relative of a former prisoner or who feels a connection to the Buchenwald Oath for other reasons is welcome.
We are a highly diverse group and explicitly welcome different perspectives and controversy. We believe that Buchenwald has been a heterogeneous place and contested issue in memory culture. The memory of Buchenwald can only stay alive if there is discussion, questioning and curiosity instead of a fixation of meaning. We want to learn about Buchenwald, we want to learn from Buchenwald for today, and we want to learn from each other. So, in many ways, the journey is the reward.
Even though we are a diverse group, we are united by our uncompromising anti-fascist stance. Our opposition to oppression, injustice, dehumanisation and discrimination of the Other —regardless of who they may be— is an essential part of our work to keep the memory of Buchenwald alive. As a group we condemn all efforts to curtail freedom and human rights or to promote racism. We share the desire to ensure that humanity learns from the past and prevents history from repeating. We want to honour the victims of Buchenwald by ensuring that their suffering and their fight are not forgotten and their memory helps us all to make this world a better place.
We have been in contact, and want to maintain ties with the ‘Buchenwald Memorial’, the ‘International Committee Buchenwald Dora and Kommandos’ (ICBD) and the ‘Lagerarbeitsgemeinschaft Buchenwald-Dora e.V.’ (LAG) all of whose efforts we value and support.
If possible, we meet every year in Weimar and Buchenwald for the commemoration of the liberation and self-liberation in April. Since 2020, we have been newly energized thanks to the possibility of online meetings. Now, we hold a videoconference every two months on the second Sunday at 6 p.m. CET. Please contact us if you would like to join.
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Our main language of communication is English, but we currently count the following languages amongst us and are ready to provide or organize translations: Czech, French, German, Italian, Romanian, and Russian.
Contact us:
third.generation.buchenwald@posteo.de
https://thirdgenerationbuchenwald.wordpress.com
Third Generation Buchenwald
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